Spike-puller



J. B. ERICKSON.

SPIKE FULLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH. 1920.

Patented May 31,1921.

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11 TTOH/VEYS PATENT ()FFIQE.

JONAS B. ERICKSON, OF IRON JMEOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN.

SPIKE-PULLER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed May 11, 1920. Serial No. 380,532.

To all to 720m it may concern Be it known that 1, Jonas B. Erickson, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Iron Mountain, in the county of Dickinson and State of Michi an, have invented a new and Improved gpike-Puller, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in spike pullers, an object of the invention being to provide a device which facilitates the removal of spikes and which employs a lever positioned parallel with the rail and operating in this position to remove spikes from either side of the rail.

A further object is to provide a spike puller which is especially adapted for use on bridges, trestles, and elevator work where it is difiicult to employ the ordinary type of spike puller.

A further object is to provide a spike puller which can be quickly and efiectually placed in operative position and which will efliciently remove the spike with the minimum of effort on the part of the operator.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings-- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my invention in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

1 represents a rail, 2 a tie supporting the same, and 3 a spike securing the rail to the tie. My improved spike puller comprises four main parts; namely, a standard 4, a lever 5 fulcrumed on the standard 4, and a claw 6 connected by a link 7 with the lever 5.

The standard 4 comprises two members 8 and 9, said members adjacent their lower ends crossed and pivotally connected by a hinge pin 10. The lower extremities of these members 8 and 9 are made hook shaped forming jaws 11 adapted to grip the head portion 12 of the rail 1. The upper end of the member 9 carries a bolt 14 which projects through a recess 13 in the member 8 and a lever nut 15 is provided on the bolt so that the upper ends of these members 8 and 9 can be drawn toward each other to operate the jaws 11 and effectually grip the rail holding the standard '4 in vertical position.

The lever 5 is provided near one end at its opposite edges with recesses 16 adapted to receive the bolt 14 in either of them so as to efiiciently fulcrum the lever on the bolt.

The link 7 above referred to, is made with a bifurcated upper end 17 receiving the shorter end of lever 5 and pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin or other pivotal connection 18. The link 7 throughout its lower portion is made with a longitudinal slot or recess 19 and in the lower portion of this slot or recess 19, the claw 6, above referred to, is mounted and pivotally connected by means of a pin or other connection 20.

The claw 6 is curved and is of substantially the shape of the letter C, the'lower free end of the claw 6 having a V-shaped' recess 21 at its ends to accommodate the shank of the spike 3 and engage under the head of the spike as is customary in the art.

A shoulder or enlargement 22 is formed on the intermediate portion of the claw 6 and is adapted to receive a blow from a hammer or other suitable device to drive the claw into operative en 'agement with the spike and to start the initial movement of the spike if such means is found necessary. j

A coiled spring 23 connects the claw 6 with the link 7 and elastically holds these parts in proper relative position to each other, but compensates for the varying movements of the link and claw during the operation of removing the spike.

It will he noted that with my improved spike puller, the lever 5 is positioned parallel to the rail 1 and the relative position of these parts is the same whether the claw be operating on one side or the other of the rail. This is important in the removal of spikes on bridges, trestles, and the like where it is difficult for the operator to find standing room at the side of the rail.

The operation is as follows: The standard 4 is positioned in clamping engagement with the rail 1 and secured in such position by means of the bolt 14 and nut 15. The lever 5 is then placed in fulcruming position on the bolt 14 and the claw 6 located in engagement with the spike 8. If necessary, a blow may be imparted to the claw to secure a firm engagement with the spike and initially move the same. When the parts are in this position, a downward pressure on the free end of the lever 5 will operate to remove the spike as will be readily under-.

stood. By making the claw 6 of the general curved or C-shape shown, the latter has a leverage against the tie and hence, the acion of removing the spike is facilitated.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from the invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spike puller, comprising a standard, a lever fulcrumed on the standard, a link pivotally connected to one end of the lever, and a curved claw pivotally connected to the link and disposed at an angle to the plane of the lever.

2. A spike puller, comprising a standard, a lever fulcrumed on the standard, a link pivotally connected to one end of the lever, a curved claw pivotally connected to the link and disposed at an angle to the plane of the lever, and a coiled spring connecting the link and the claw.

3. A spike puller, comprising a standard, a lever fnlcrumed on the standard, a link pivotally connected to one end of the lever, a curved claw pivotally connected to the link and disposed at an angle to the plane of the lever, a coiled spring connecting the link and the claw, and an enlargement on said claw adapted to receive blows to drive the claw into operative engagement with the spike.

4%. A spike puller, comprising a standard, said standard consisting of two members pivotally connected, the lower ends of said members constituting jaws adapted to grip a rail, a bolt connecting the upper ends of said members, an adjusting nut on said bolt clamping the members in operative position, a lever adapted to fulcrum on the bolt, a link depending from the lever, a claw connected to the link and disposed at an angle to the plane of the lever, and a spring connecting the claw and the link.

5. A spike puller, comprising a standard adapted to be secured to a rail, a lever fulcrumed on the standard and adapted to be located in the same vertical plane as the rail, a link on one end of the lever, and a C. shaped claw pivotally connected at one end to the link and disposed at an angle to the plane of the lever and adapted at its free end to engage spikes at either side of the rail.

J ONASB. ERIOKSON. 

